Glossary
Comprehensive glossary of international trade and customs terms
A.TR certificate (Türkiye)
OriginMovement document certifying that the goods are in free circulation in the EU or Turkey within the framework of the customs union.
AEO (Authorized Economic Operator)
AEO (Authorized Economic Operator)Trusted status issued by customs to reliable operators, offering customs facilitations.
AES (Automated Export System)
Digital & toolsThe EU IT system managing export declarations and controlling the actual exit of goods from the EU customs territory.
AI in customs
Digital & toolsApplication of artificial intelligence to customs operations: automated tariff classification, fraud detection, risk analysis.
ASYCUDA / ASYCUDA
African TradeUNCTAD customs IT system deployed in more than 100 countries, de facto standard in French-speaking Africa.
ATA Carnet
Logistics & transportInternational customs document enabling the temporary admission of goods free of duties and taxes, without complex customs formalities.
ATA notebook
Commercial DocumentsInternational customs document allowing the temporary importation of goods free of duties and taxes.
ATLAS (German customs system)
Digital & toolsThe German customs IT system (Automatisiertes Tarif- und Lokales Zollabwicklungssystem) for electronic processing of customs declarations.
ATR
OriginMovement certificate used in trade between the EU and Turkey under the customs union, attesting the free circulation of industrial products.
Abandonment to the State
Customs & proceduresProcedure by which an operator relinquishes goods to the State to avoid payment of customs duties.
Absorption principle
OriginPrinciple whereby a material that has acquired originating status in a country loses its non-originating identity and is treated as 100% originating in subsequent processing.
Ad valorem transport insurance
International Trade Finance and InsuranceAn insurance policy that covers goods up to their actual value, as opposed to the carrier's limited coverage.
AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area)
African TradeLargest free trade zone in the world by number of countries, aiming to liberalize 90% of trade between 54 African states.
Agent / Responsible person (products)
ESG Compliance and TradeEntity established in the EU designated to assume the regulatory obligations of a foreign manufacturer for products placed on the European market.
Air Waybill (AWB)
Logistics & transportNon-negotiable air transport document serving as a contract of carriage, receipt for goods, and instructions for the carrier.
Air Waybill (LTA/AWB)
International LogisticsTransport document for air cargo serving as a receipt and transport contract.
Air freight
Logistics & transportTransport of goods by air, preferred for urgent, high-value, or perishable shipments.
Air freight
International LogisticsTransport of goods by air, preferred for urgent, high value or perishable shipments.
Allocation of costs
IncotermsDivision of transport, insurance, and customs clearance costs between seller and buyer, as determined by the Incoterm chosen in the sales contract.
Anti-Coercion Instrument
EU regulationAn EU instrument enabling retaliation against third countries exerting economic pressure to influence EU or Member State policies.
Anti-dumping duty
Commerce & marketsAdditional customs duty imposed on imported goods sold below their normal value, designed to protect domestic industry from unfair pricing.
Anti-dumping duty
Tariff ClassificationAdditional customs duty imposed on imported products sold at a price lower than their normal value.
Approved exporter number
EU RegulationsAuthorization allowing an exporter to self-certify the preferential origin of its goods on invoice.
Arrival contract
IncotermsSales contract in which the seller bears the risks and costs of transport to the agreed destination, corresponding to D-group Incoterms.
Assists
Customs valuationGoods or services provided free of charge or at reduced cost by the buyer to the seller for the production of imported goods, to be added to the transaction value.
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)
Customs & proceduresCustoms-certified status guaranteeing an operator's reliability, granting customs facilitations.
Autonomous duties
Customs & proceduresCustoms duties unilaterally set by the EU in its Common Customs Tariff, as opposed to negotiated conventional duties.
Bank guarantee
Finance & paymentsA bank's undertaking to pay a specified amount if its client fails to fulfil a contractual obligation.
Battery Regulation
EU regulationEU regulation covering the entire lifecycle of batteries, from raw material extraction to recycling, with sustainability requirements.
Bid bond
Finance & paymentsA bank guarantee accompanying a tender offer, ensuring the bidder will maintain their bid and sign the contract if awarded.
Glossary A-Z
- A.TR certificate (Türkiye)
- Abandonment to the State
- Absorption principle
- Ad valorem transport insurance
- AEO (Authorized Economic Operator)
- AES (Automated Export System)
- AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area)
- Agent / Responsible person (products)
- AI in customs
- Air freight
- Air freight
- Air Waybill (AWB)
- Air Waybill (LTA/AWB)
- Allocation of costs
- Anti-Coercion Instrument
- Anti-dumping duty
- Anti-dumping duty
- Approved exporter number
- Arrival contract
- Assists
- ASYCUDA / ASYCUDA
- ATA Carnet
- ATA notebook
- ATLAS (German customs system)
- ATR
- Authorised Economic Operator (AEO)
- Autonomous duties
- Bank guarantee
- Battery Regulation
- Bid bond
- Bilateral cumulation
- Bilateral trade
- Bill discounting
- Bill of Lading (B/L)
- Binding Origin Information (BOI)
- Binding Tariff Information (BTI)
- Blockchain and customs
- Blockchain and customs
- Bonded warehouse
- Bpifrance Assurance Export
- Break bulk
- Buyer credit
- Buying Commission
- Cabotage
- Cargo manifest
- Cargo Tracking Slip (BSC / BESC)
- CBAM certificates
- CCI (Customs Clearance Integration)
- CDS (Customs Decision System)
- CE marking
- Centralised clearance
- Certificate of analysis
- Certificate of conformity (COC / VOC)
- Certificate of origin
- Certificate of origin
- CFR (Cost and Freight)
- Chapter notes
- Chargeable weight
- CHIEF to CDS migration (UK)
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
- CIF / FOB price
- CIP (Carriage and Insurance Paid To)
- CISG (UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods)
- CITES (Convention on Trade in Endangered Species)
- Classification by analogy
- Classification compendium
- Classification of parts and accessories
- Classification of sets
- Clearance
- Clearance channel
- CMR consignment note
- CMR consignment note
- COFACE (historical reference)
- Collection notice (AMR)
- Combined Nomenclature (CN)
- Commercial agency contract
- Commercial agent
- Commercial invoice
- Commercial invoice
- Commercial mediation
- Commercial policy measures
- Common Customs Tariff (CCT)
- Common External Tariff (CET)
- Common market
- Composite goods
- Computed value method
- Confirmed letter of credit
- Consolidation (LCL)
- Constituent material
- Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
- Container (types and dimensions)
- Containerization
- Counterfeiting
- Counterfeiting and customs detention
- Countervailing duty
- Countervailing duty
- Country of last substantial transformation
- Country risk
- CPT (Carriage Paid To)
- CS3D (European Duty of Vigilance Directive)
- Currency hedging
- Currency risk
- Customs audit
- Customs broker
- Customs broker
- Customs clearance
- Customs Clearance and Incoterms
- Customs de minimis threshold / Excess of €150
- Customs debt
- Customs Decision System (CDS)
- Customs declaration
- Customs detention (IP)
- Customs duties
- Customs export declaration
- Customs fees
- Customs guarantee
- Customs inspection visit
- Customs litigation
- Customs release / Good to Remove (BAE)
- Customs representation
- Customs risk analysis
- Customs Single Window
- Customs transit (T1/T2)
- Customs union
- Customs Union
- Customs Valuation Methods
- Customs value adjustments
- Customs value declaration (DV1)
- Customs value declaration (DV1)
- Customs warehouse
- Customs warehouse
- Customs warehouse
- Dangerous goods (ADR / IMDG / IATA DGR)
- DAP (Delivered at Place)
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
- De minimis (origin)
- Declaration of exchange of goods (DEB / EMEBI)
- Deconsolidation
- Deductive method
- Deemed Supplier
- Definitive export
- Delivery point
- DELTA (French automated customs clearance system)
- DELTA (French customs system)
- Delta G / Delta
- Delta I/E (Import/Export)
- Demurrage
- Demurrage and Detention Fees (Demurrage & Detention)
- Destruction under customs supervision
- Detention
- Development regime (overview)
- Diagonal cumulation
- Diet 42 and Diet 63
- Digital Product Passport (DPP)
- Direct transport
- Distribution agreement
- Documentary check
- Documentary collection
- Documentary remittance
- Documents against Acceptance (D/A)
- Documents against Payment (D/P)
- Domiciliary procedure (PDE)
- DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded)
- Drawback (duty refund)
- Dropshipping and customs
- Dual-use export controls
- Dual-use goods
- Due diligence directive (CSDDD)
- Duty relief
- e-Customs
- EBTI database
- Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)
- Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA)
- Economic sanctions
- Economic sanctions
- ECOWAS TEC (Common External Tariff)
- EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)
- Electronic bill of lading (eBL)
- Embargo
- Embodied emissions (MACF)
- Entry in the Declarant's Records (EIDR)
- Entry summary declaration (ENS)
- Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)
- Entry Summary Declaration (ENS)
- EORI (Economic Operators Registration and Identification)
- Essential character
- EU Customs Data Hub
- EU customs reform 2028
- EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
- EU Plastics Own Resource
- EU-Africa EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement)
- EUDR (European Deforestation Regulation)
- Euler Hermes
- EUR-MED
- EUR.1
- EUR.1 circulation certificate
- Exchange rate
- Excise / Excise duties
- Exclusive distributor
- Exclusivity clause
- Exit summary declaration (EXS)
- Exit Summary Declaration (EXS)
- Explanatory Notes of the Harmonized System (NESH)
- Export control
- Export credit insurance
- Export factoring
- Export licence
- Export license
- Extraterritoriality of American sanctions
- EXW (Ex Works)
- Fall-back method
- FAS (Free Alongside Ship)
- FCA (Free Carrier)
- FCL (Full Container Load)
- FCL (Full Container Load)
- Finished vs semi-finished product
- First Sale Rule
- FOB (Free on Board)
- Force majeure clause
- Forced Labor Regulations
- Forfaiting
- Form A (SPG)
- Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
- Free Trade Agreement (FTA)
- Free trade zone
- Free zone
- Free zone
- Freight forwarder
- Freight Forwarder
- Frontier carbon adjustment (CBAM)
- Full cumulation
- General average (General Average)
- General Interpretive Rules (GIR)
- General Rules of Interpretation (RGI)
- Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP)
- Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
- Goods presented unassembled
- Governing law
- GPSR (General Product Safety Regulation)
- GUN (National Single Window for Customs Clearance)
- ICC Arbitration
- ICS2 (Import Control System 2)
- ICS2 (Import Control System 2)
- Identical Goods Method
- Import licence
- Import REP (Extended Producer Responsibility)
- Import VAT
- Importer of record (IOR)
- Incoterms 2020
- Inspection Certificate / SGS
- Insurance costs
- Insurance obligation
- Intellectual property (IP)
- Internal Compliance Program (ICP / PCI)
- International arbitration
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
- International factoring (factoring export)
- International freight transport insurance
- International Nonproprietary Name (INN)
- International payment methods
- International sales contract
- Intracommunity VAT number
- Intrastat / Statistical survey
- Intrinsic value
- Inward processing
- IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop)
- Irrevocable letter of credit
- ISPM 15 (treatment of wood packaging)
- MACF (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism)
- MACF certificates
- Machinery Directive
- Maritime bill of lading (Bill of Lading)
- Maritime charter
- Maritime surcharges (BAF, THC, CIF)
- Marking of origin (“Made in”)
- MFN Rate (Most Favored Nation)
- Most Favoured Nation (MFN)
- Most-favoured-nation clause
- MRN (Movement Reference Number)
- Multi-function machine
- Multilateral trade
- Multimodal transport
- Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
- Packaging Directive
- Packing list
- Packing List
- Paperless customs
- Particular destination (End-Use)
- PEM Convention (Paneuro-Mediterranean)
- Penalty clause
- Performance bond
- Pharmaceutical nomenclature
- Physical inspection
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Phytosanitary certificate / Veterinary certificate
- Port handling
- Pre-shipment Inspection (PSI)
- Preferential origin
- Preferential origin
- Price actually paid or payable
- Prior Import Declaration (DPI)
- PRODCOM nomenclature
- Proforma invoice
- Proforma invoice
- Proof of origin
- RDE (Registered Customs Representative)
- Re-export
- REACH
- Reference value
- Regime 42 (VAT-exempt import)
- Registered Exporter (REX)
- Related parties
- Release for free circulation
- Release of goods
- Release of goods
- Removal credit
- Retail packaging
- Returns of goods
- Reverse charge of import VAT
- Reverse charge of import VAT
- Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)
- REX system (Registered Exporter)
- REX System (Registered Exporter)
- Rome I Regulation
- Royalties and licence fees
- Royalties and license fees
- Rules of origin
- Safeguard measure
- Safeguard measure
- Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)
- Screening of sanctions lists (Screening)
- Sea freight
- Section notes
- Sensitive assets
- Shipment contract
- Similar Goods Method
- Simplified and complementary declaration
- Simplified declaration
- Single Administrative Document (DAU)
- Single Administrative Document (SAD)
- SIRET
- Small Parcel Tax (TPC)
- SOPRANO (French customs portal)
- Special customs regimes
- Specific rules of origin
- SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) standards
- Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC)
- Standby Letter of Credit (SBLC)
- Statistical nomenclature
- Store and Customs Clearance Area (MEAD)
- Stuffing and unloading
- Subheading notes
- Subsidiary methods of value
- Sufficient working or processing
- Supplier credit
- Supplier's declaration
- Supply chain traceability
- Suspensive tax regime / Tax warehouse
- SWIFT transfer
- SWIFT transfer
- TARIC (Integrated Tariff of the European Communities)
- TARIC additional code
- TARIC code
- Tariff classification change criterion
- Tariff heading
- Tariff preference
- Tariff quota
- Tariff species / Tariff classification
- Tariff subheading
- Tariff suspension
- Tariff-rate quota (TRQ)
- Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Agreement
- Temporary admission
- Temporary deposit
- Temporary export
- Terms of trade index
- TEU / TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit)
- TIR Carnet
- TIR notebook
- Tolerance rule
- Trade balance
- Trade embargo
- Trade embargo
- Trade facilitation
- Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA/TFA)
- Transaction value
- Transaction value
- Transaction value method
- Transfer of risk
- Transfer price and customs value
- Transfer Pricing and Customs
- Transferable documentary credit
- Transit T1 / T2 / NCTS
- Transit T1/T2
- Transport costs
- Transshipment
- Transshipment
- Triangular operation
- Triangular trade (Chain Transaction)
- Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU)